“For The Institute of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt“
I loved the opening quote Dan Wilt gave by Robert E Webber:
“Biblical remembering makes the power and the saving effect of the event present to the worshipping community…God loves our worship when we remember his saving deeds in Jesus Christ….forgetting brings death but remembering brings life..”
I’ve never really thought of worship as ‘remembering God’s story’ before and the more I’ve meditated on this the more it’s changed the way I see worship and what we actually do. It will make me look at songs and their content differently, give more meaning and direction to different seasons we celebrate. It gives me a goal to aim for when leading the congregation in worship, and to write songs that capture God’s story. It’s so simple but so profound!
The challenging part for me has been looking at the Christian year and seasons. Due to my experiences as a child of meaningless images, prayer & hymn books that contained elaborate words but had little meaning to me, I’ve had to set aside my past to look afresh at church history and seasons, and see how they’ve impacted generations and helped people connect with God. Personally I’m challenged by how I can implement some of this into my current worship community and life.
Quote: Robert E Webber, Ancient-Future Worship: Proclaiming and Enacting God’s Narrative (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2008 pages 43-44)
February 22, 2009 at 3:19 am
The idea of remembering is so rich in this course of study. It’s interesting that in our search for new ideas, fresh perspectives and a ‘new song’ we as a postmodern church community seem to have forgotten that there is so much value and depth in these old and sometimes ancient forms.
I too have been challenged to write songs that tell God’s rich story. Dan will hit you soon with the phrase Salvific Storyteller and I love it!!! A people called to tell God’s amazing story of salvation…. love, grace and mercy…
My prayer is that you will be blessed through this course!!! Enjoy wading through the history of church and worship.
Phil